Electrical carburetor



Sept. 17,' 1935. c. A. RQSIER ELECTRICAL CARBURETOR Filed July 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 17, 1935. c. A. ROSIER ELECTRICAL CARBURETOR Filed July 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 il-j fig INVENTJR. I W M Kim 5 A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatuses and processes for internal combustion engines.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive device of the character described, for use with heavy hydrocarbon oil fuels, which will be smooth and regular in action, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be operable at relatively low temperatures to render a highly efficient fuel gas for internal combustion engines, and which shall be practical and efficient to a high degree.

Certain features shown, described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 365,704, filed May 24, 1929, are shown and described but not claimed in the present application.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying my invention connected to an internal combustion engine;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the thermostatic control means for the heater;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 'I is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I designates apparatus embodying the invention for producing gaseous fuels from liquids (such as heavy hydrocarbon oils, here shown, for the purpose of illustration, in the form of a carburetor or the like device connected to the intake manifold I2 of an internal combustion engine I3. The engine I3 is furthermore provided with an exhaust pipe I4 for discharging the exhaust gases from the cylinders thereof. For the purpose hereinafter appearing, the exhaust pipe I4 is provided with a pipe extension I6 to which are connected or having integral therewith at spaced points thereof, branch pipes I1 and I8. Interposed between said branch pipes I1 and I8 and connecting the same, is a bend or pipev I9 forming part of a casting 2|], hereinafter described in greater detail.

The pipe I3 as well as the branches I1 and I8, form a by-pass for the exhaust pipes l4 and I6.

A butterfly valve 2| interposed in the branch pipe I1 controls the flow of exhaust gases thru the pipe I9 so that when desired, the valve 2|, by means of any suitable manual control mechanism 22, may be closed to prevent the flow of gases thru said pipe I9 so that the exhaust gases will pass only thru extension pipe I6 into the outlet pipe 23 to the muiller. The casting may further comprise a horizontal pipe 24 disposed alongside the horizontal branch 25 of the bend I9. Inserted within said pipe 24 through the open 15, end 25w thereof, is a retort 241:. comprising an outer tubular portion 26 snugly received within pipe 24 and an inner tubular portion 21 concentric with said portion 26 and connected thereto by an end wall 28. The tubular portion 21 may 20, be somewhat shorter than the outer portion 26 and is provided with an end wall 29. Attached in any suitable manner to the open end portion 30 of the tubular member 26, is a member 3| comprising a casing 32, formed with an end wall 25 33. Extending from the wall 33 is a pipe 34 to which there is connected in any suitable manner, a feed pipe 35 for heavy fuel oils or the like liquid fuels. Inserted within the pipe 34 is a one-way check valve 35 of any suitable con- 30 struction, which permits the flow of liquid fuel to the lower portion of the casing 32, but prevents backflow of said fuel or gases from the retort, upon increase of pressure within said retort. Extending from and integrally formed with 35 the end wall 33 is also a small nipple 38 disposed at right angles to the tube 34 and provided with a needle valve 39 for manually adjusting and controlling the flow of fuel to the retort. Attached to said end wall 33 on the in- 40. ner side thereof is an angular shaped plate 40 having a portion 4| transversely disposed within said casing 32, and dividing the same into an upper chamber 31 and a lower chamber 31a, said plate portion 4| contacting theend wall 29 of v tubular portion 2? and also the inner surface of the casing 32. Fixed to said plate portion 4| are a pair of baffle rods 43 and 44 extending between the tubular walls 23 and 21. Said rods 43 and 44, stop short of the end wall 28 so that gasified fuel oil will flow beneath the plate 4| into the lower half of the sleeve-like chamber formed between the tubular portions 26 and 21 and then around the ends of the rods 43, 44. into the upper half of the sleeve-like chamber and then above the plate 4| into chamber 31.

Attached to said end wall 33 is a casting 45 having a tubular portion 46 formed with a conduit 41 communicating with an opening 48 formed in said end wall 33. Said opening 48 is after explained.

- 12 and communicates preferably formed with tapering portions 48a and a pin hole 49 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The casting 45 is furthermore formed with a central, vertical tubular portion 50 communicating with-said conduit 41. Screwed to the bottom of said tubular portion 50 is a member 5| having a screw threaded portion 5Ia, and a central por f tion 52 upstanding therefrom and projecting into said tubular portion 50 and formed with an axial bore 53. The member 5| is furthermore formed with a downwardly extending skirted portion 54, to the lower end of which there is screwed a nut 55 forming a chamber 56 below the screw threadedportion 5 I a. The upper end 51 of the tubular portion 50 isin the form of a tapered valve seat and adjacent said upper end 51 is a spider-web construction 58 having a central or axial bore 59.

A poppet valve 60 having a head 6| adapted to rest on the valve seat 51 is provided with a shank 62 extending thru the openings 59 and 53. A

:nut 63 may bescrewed to the lower end of the shankiz and a coil compression spring 64 interposed between said nut and the underside of the screw threaded portion 5Ia.

It will thus be seen that the valve 60 may be lifted for unseating the head 6| thereof against the pressure of the spring 64. The casting 45 is further formed with an extension 65 communieating with a feed pipe 66 for gasoline. A needle valve 61 of usual construction serves to regulate and control the flow of gasoline to the tubular portion 50. The member 45 is further formed with a cylindrical wall 68 surrounding and concentric with the tubular portion 50 forming a pocket or chamber 69 for the purpose herein- Integrally formed with said member 45 is another cylindrical wall 10 concentric with and disposed about the member 68 forming a cylindrical chamber 1|. Extending from said cylindrical wall 10 is a pipe 12 in which there is mounted a butterfly valve 13 actuable thru any suitable manual control mechanism 14, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Extending from said cylindrical wall 68 and communicating with the chamber 69 is a pipe portion 16 for the purpose hereinafter described.

A hollow dome shaped member 11 is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical wall 10 and communicates with the manifold I2. The mixing chamber 18 formed by said dome shaped member 11 is in opencommunication with the chamber 1|. Upon reduction of pressure within the manifold during the intake stroke, the valve is unseated and the gasified and expanded hydrocarbon oil from the tubular portion 50 will flow into said chamber 18. Said chamber is also :adapted to receive heated air from chamber 69 thru an opening 15, formed in an end wall 150: .at the upper end of chamber 69.

- A pipe bend 80, having an upwardly extending arm 80a, is attached to the end of the pipe therewith. The outer end of said arm 80a is formed with a spider-web construction 8| to which there is attached a hood 84 whereby free air may enter said pipe 89 and pass thru pipe 12 into the chamber 1|. The passage or flow of air to said chamber 1| may thus be controlled by the manually operable butterfly valve 13.

Integral with the tubular member 24 and forming part .of casting 20 is a pipe 90 having a portion .9I aligned with and parallel to said tube 24 and communicating therewith thru passage 92, and a portion 93 bent around the pipe .bend or aspirator 80 and attached to the outer end of pipe 16 as at 95. The inner chamber 21a formed by the tubular member 21 thus communicates thru the passage 92 and the pipe 90 with the chamber or pocket 69 and thru the opening 15 with the mixing chamber 18 and the manifold. A small opening 95 may be formed in the pipe Lportion 9| whereby air may enter said pipe 90.

,A.closure member 91 serves to close the tubular member 24 and the pipe portion 9|. Said member 91 maybe formed with an opening I00 for receiving aplate I0| on which is mounted in the manner hereinafter appearing, a heater IOIa for gasifying the fuel entering the retort. Said plate IOI is preferably made of heat resisting material and inserted in said plate is a bushing I02 on which is mounted a heat resisting member I03 extendingforwardly into said chamber 21a. A heating coil I04 wound on the member I03 is provided with wire ends extending into said bushing, and connected by means of wiring I05 to an electric power source I06.

Means is provided for thermostatically controlling the heater |0Ia whereby upon increase of temperature within the retort above a predetermined degree, the heater will automatically be rendered inoperative. To this end a member IIO comprising an elongated metal bar of high heat conductivity extends into said tubular portion9| and is provided with a screw threaded plug portion III screwed to said wall 91. The bar 0 is connected in any suitable manner to a bimetallic thermostatic switch I|2, interposed in the wiring 05. Thus, heat from the. heating coil I04 serves to heat the air within the tubular portion 9|, and the bar IIO, the heat being in turn conducted from the bar I I0 to the switch II2. Said switch 2 is fixed at one end 3 and is provided with a free end 4 adapted to move away from a fixed contact II 5, upon rise of temperature within said pipe portion 9| above a predetermined point, for breaking the circuit and shutting off the supply of electric power to the heating coil. As will be readily understood, upon decrease of temperature within the retort; below said predetermined point, the switch |I2 will again engage the contact 5 to close the circuit for starting the electric heater. 7

The heated exhaust gases passing thru the by-pass I9 are also adapted to heat the retort by means of conduction, the heat passing thru the metal wall 8 separating the pipe portion 25 from the pipe 24. v

The retort including the pipes 26 and21, and end walls 28 and 29 is preferably made of copper and the walls thereof are preferably nickel plated. The plate member 40, as well as the bafile bars 43,44 are preferably made of aluminum. It has been found that the nickel plated copper retort and the aluminum baffle plate and bars serve as highly effective catalyzing agents to aid in gasifying the fuel, and prevent at the same time, carbon deposits within the retort duringthe gasifying process.

During the operation of the engine I3 upon intake stroke of each cylinder, a reduction in the pressure within the manifold will cause unseating of the valve 60 for drawing gasified fuel into the manifold. The butterfly valve 13' furthermore serves .to regulate the amount of free air flowing thru the chamber 1| and also serves to simultaneously regulate the amount of gasified fuel .oil entering the mixing chamber 18 at the intake stroke of the engine. Thus, when the valve 13 is opened, the intake of gasified fuel and air increases and upon closing of the valve I3 the intake of gasified fuel and air decreases.

The operation of the device will now be described. The engine is preferably started on gasoline, the needle valve 39 being closed and the valve 61 open at the start of the operation. The gasoline passing from feed pipe 66 will be atomized through the needle opening of valve 61 and flow thru the tube 50 into the manifold. The valve 2| may be closed at the beginning of the operation, and the electric heater IOIa may be turned on for heating the retort. After the retort has been somewhat heated, the valve 61 may be closed and valve 39 opened. The oil will then pass through the needle opening in the valve 39 to be somewhat atomized and spread into the lower chamber 31a. The atomized oil will then be heated and gasified and pass through the lower half of the chamber between the tubes 21 and 26 and then to the upper chamber around the baflie bars 43, 44. The gasified oil will then pass through the nozzle pin hole 49 into the pipe 41 to the tubular chamber 50. Any suitable heavy hydrocarbon oil or Diesel oil may be effectively used. Such oils, for example of from 28 to 32 Baum are with my apparatus effectively gasified and prepared for use in an ordinary internal combustion engine with retort temperatures of 125 to 250 F. with resultant higher efiiciency and fuel economy at temperatures much lower than the extremely high temperatures ordinarily required. It will be noted that the gasified oil is reheated in passing through the tube 50 by the heated member 69, said chamber further serving to simultaneously heat the free air passing through the aspirator 80 and thru chamber 1|.

After the motor has been in operation for some time, the valve 2| may be opened to permit exhaust gases to pass through the by-pass l9 and the electric heater may then be shut off, the heated exhaust gases being then sufficient to maintain the retort at the proper temperature. Obviously, the retort may be heated by the exhaust gases and electric heater simultaneously.

The check valve 36, which prevents back flow of fuel into the feed pipe 35 and hence obviates surging of the fuel in the retort, cooperates with the poppet valve 69 to produce a steady and uniform flow of gasified fuel into the mixing chamber during the intake strokes of the pistons. A highly effective, efficient, practical and compact apparatus for producing a highly efiicient, gaseous fuel from heavy hydrocarbon oils at relatively low temperatures is provided.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted tomeet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A carburetor comprising a retort having an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, one end of the inner tubular member having an end closure, the other end of said inner tubular member being connected by a wall to said outer tubular member, an electric heater extending into the interior of said inner tubular member through the open end thereof, and baflie members extending between said tubular members and terminating short of the wall connecting said inner and outer tubular members.

2. A carburetor comprising a retort having an inner tubular member and an outer tubular mem her, one end of the inner tubular member having an end closure, the other end of said inner tubular member being connected by a wall to said outer tubular member, and a baille member extending between said tubular members and terminating short of the wall connecting said inner and outer tubular members, said inner and outer tubular members and said closure and wall being made of nickel plated copper.

3. A carburetor comprising a retort having an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, one end of the inner tubular member having an end closure, the other end of said inner tubular member being connected by a wall to said outer tubular member, an electric heater extending into the exterior of said inner tubular member through the open end thereof, and bafile means extending between said tubular members and terminating short of the wall connecting said inner and outer tubular members, said inner and outer tubular members and said closure and wall being made of nickel plated copper.

4. A carburetor comprising a retort having an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, one end of the inner tubular member having an end closure, the other end of said inner tubular member being connected by a wall to said outer tubular member, and a baflie member extending between said tubular members and terminating short of the wall connecting said inner and outer tubular members, said inner and outer tubular members and said closure and wall being made of nickel plated copper, said baffle member being made of aluminum.

5. A carburetor comprising a retort having an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, one end of the inner tubular member having an end closure, the other end of said inner tubular member being connected by a wall to said outer tubular member, an electric heater extending into the interior of said inner tubular member through the open end thereof, a baffle member extending between said tubular members and terminating short of the wall connecting said inner and outer tubular members, said inner and outer tubular members and said wall and closure being made of nickel plated copper, said bafile being made of aluminum.

6. A carburetor comprising a retort having an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, one end of the inner tubular member having an end closure, the other end of said inner tubular member being connected by a wall to said outer tubular member, an electric heater extending into the interior of said inner tubular member through the open end thereof, a baffle member extending between said tubular members terminating short of the wall connecting said inner and outer tubular members, and thermostatic switch means for automatically controlling the operation of the said electric heater.

CHARLES ADOLPHE ROSIER. 

